The new Space Restaurant at Epcot was announced at the D23 Expo in 2017, and recently, construction of the new table service establishment began. The restaurant is located on the right side of the Mission Space pavilion, adjacent to Test Track presented by Chevrolet. If you’ve evert stood anywhere near the Test Track building, you know that the cars traveling by at over 60mph can cause quite a ruckus. Apparently, this is so loud and forceful that it is currently unclear how they will keep the noise and reverberations from the Test Track cars out of the fully enclosed Space Restaurant.
The project is not currently being designed or built by Walt Disney Imagineering, but rather by a 3rd party company. This company has, as of yet, been unable to figure out how they will keep all of this noise or the reverberations caused by the fast cars out of the restaurant due to its proximity. Last we heard, it was a serious concern, but construction was still moving forward at full steam.
Hopefully, they will figure this out so the tranquil views of space are not ruined every few minutes by loud rumbling. Hey, they could always time a projection of a rocket blasting off to each car passing by, right?
For more on the Space Restaurant, please check out our most recent post giving you all of the info you need to know. The restaurant is slated to open by 2021 in time for Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary celebration.
How did they not know this would be an issue? Anyone that is anywhere near Test Track would be aware that vehicles roaring by are consistent and loud?
I bet they will have a space ship or asteroid fly by every time a car passes outside to mask the noise, even thought there is no sound in space.
They can just time it so that a big asteroid projection flies across the screen every time a Test Track vehicle rumbles by. They can use the Space Mountain cookie and it will be on all the “TWELVE DISNEY THINGS YOU NEVER KNEEEEWWW” clickbait lists.
So…. you come up with this concept, pick a site, design a structure, award a contract, and do no site evaluation for noise, vibration or other issues?
Why am I not surprised given Disney’s current track record?
They don’t need to do any of that. First you insulate the building well. Then, since almost every Disney restaurant is loud due to people talking the whole time, you pump in loud music. Make it some grand overly slow orchestra instrumental. maybe throw in a few bleeps and boops and you’re good to go.
If you need more, add a sound wall similar to those found on the side of major roads where subdivisions are located. Maybe on the Test Track side you theme it to look like a billboard.
Maybe they’ll split the restaurant in half. One side close to TT and the other side far away from TT. Then you can ask for the more intense side or the less intense side.
Better yet, those that stay in Value Resorts can only sit on the side of the restaurant closest to TT while those staying in Moderates or higher get to sit far away.
Or even better yet (and knowing Disney they’ll stoop to it) they’ll charge an additional fee to sit far away from TT. Yep, that’s it. That’s what they’ll do. Up charge.
Scrap Test Track. Bring back World of Motion. Problem solved.
I’ve hung around Test Track’s area for an hour or so… while it’s true the cars are fairly loud and come by every 15 seconds or so, they’re not deafening and the ground doesn’t shake. You can’t hear them while inside the Odyssey building at all, and that old restaurant building is about 10-15 yards CLOSER to the ride building than what the space restaurant is going to be.I really don’t see it being an issue in a large, open floor plan, busy restaurant filled with alcohol-fueled adults and sugar-infused kids… It’s not a library.
Have any of you been in BOG during lunch? It is so loud. Just put hundreds of guests in the space restaurant & you can’t hear the people at the next table..let alone outside.
You can’t hear the cars when you’re inside of Test Track’s facility (before or after your ride). I doubt this will be a real issue.
Disney does not typically miss such obvious issues when going to the effort of planning and building places. I believe they have a plan in place. Could be more sound insulation in the building, or it might be adding insulation to the part of TT closest to the restaurant.
Someone is being an alarmist.